Uprooted Palestinians are at the heart of the conflict in the M.E Palestinians uprooted by force of arms. Yet faced immense difficulties have survived, kept alive their history and culture, passed keys of family homes in occupied Palestine from one generation to the next.

The zionist-controlled media has hijacked our language, and vocabulary and disfigured our religion

They drilled in people’s heads that jihad is a bad word that means killing or holy war, when the truth is:

Jihadis an Arabic word that means the endeavour to do your best to make this world a better one:

Any effort to help achieve that is called jihad, or struggle, going to school to learn is a form of jihad, being a mother rearing children is jihad, spreading knowledge through teaching or writing is jihad, treating patients is jihad, looking after sick parents is jihad, also defending yourself when attacked is jihad, and struggling against oppression is jihad.

Any action that one undertakes in order to bring good mankind is jihad

Life with all its ups and downs is a jihad

The highest form of Jihad, however, is the inner Jihad, which is the Major Jihad that means the never ending inner struggle against one’s arrogance, greed, and selfishness in order to achieve the Generous Temperaments.

Prophet Muhammad, Peace be upon him, declared "Verily I was sent to this World to define (and live by) the Generous Temperament."

According to him, the codes of Generous Temperament (makarem elakhlaq) are seven:

“Pardoning those who have oppressed you

Giving to those who have deprived you

Connecting with those who have shunned you

Benefiting those who have abused you

Counselling those who have deceived you

Forgiving those who have maligned you

Forbearing with those who have angered you.”

How misleading and dishonest is the translation and misconception of jihad as a holy war then!

contrary to common beliefs, the concept of holy war does NOT exist in Islam; it is a European concept from the days of the crusaders, and has absolutely no equivalent in Islam, it does however in the minds of the new crusaders as it seems from the video clip we’ve seen, and in the sick minds of those who invaded our lands and murdered our people.

When translated holy war is “Harb Muqaddassah” which is an unheard of words and concept!A perception unknown!! and a word that is NEVER used in our written or spoken language!!

By writing this, all I am doing is reclaiming my language back.

War and peace:
Of course, as I said earlier, Jihad could also mean defending yourself when attacked, and struggling against oppression.

But here, the general rule is:

Fighting is only allowed in case of self-defence, against Aggression (odwan) or Persecution (fitnah).
Fighting is never justified EXCEPT in cases of self defence, and the resistance of oppression and occupation.

The Quran is explicit in its support for justice, human dignity and the right of self defence

'You may fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not initiate aggression. God does not love transgressors.' (2.190)

"O ye who believe! be steadfast firmly for God, as witnesses to fair dealing, Let not a group's hostility against you cause you to deviate from justice. Be just, for it is closer to piety. Be God conscious; for God is Well Aware of what you do." (Quran; 5-8 )

“To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight back), because they are wronged; and verily, God is most powerful for their aid; (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right,-(for no cause) except that they say, our Lord is God”. (22:39-40)

“God commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and antagonism: He advices you, that ye may be reminded.” (16-90)

"No soul shall be made to bear the burden (liability) of another." (35:18 )

“But show them forgiveness, and say "Peace!" and soon shall they know!” (43; 89)

“The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from God; for (God) loveth not those who are wrong-doers”. (42:40)

'If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things.' (8.61)

“But God does call to the Home of Peace” (10-25)

“Ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for God can best protect both. Follow not the desires (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily God is well-acquainted with all that ye do. Thus, have We made of you a nation justly balanced, that ye might be witnesses over the nations, and the Messenger a witness over yourselves” (2-143)

“Show forgiveness, speak for justice and avoid the ignorant.” (7:199)

“It may well be that God will bring about love (and friendship) between you and those with whom you are now at odds.” (60:7)

“Nor can goodness and evil be equal. Repel evil with what is best: if you do so, he who is your enemy will become a close friend.” (41.34)

UP's Comment:

Dear Nahida

The translation of veses is (8.61) misleading

'If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things.' (8.61)

And prepare against them what force you can and horses tied at the frontier, to frighten thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them, whom you do not know (but) Allah knows them; and whatever thing you will spend in Allah's way, it will be paid back to you fully and you shall not be dealt with unjustly. (60) And if they incline to peace, then incline to itand trust in Allah; surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing. (61)

The first verses urges us to aquire power to prevent aggression (Frighten -not terrorize) the ememy and others beside him. In modern terms: Achieve Power Balance.
According to syrian resercher Professor Mohamad Shahrour IT refers not to Peace in vesres 61, but to FORCE in Verses 60.

In other words: IF THEY INCLINE TO PEACE, THEN INCLINE TO FORCE, to keep the ememy frightened and prevent WAR.

Though the enemy never inclined to Peace, Arabs and Muslims took the vesrese 61 out text and inclined to peace as stragic option ( Camp David, Oslo, Wadi Araba, and now indirect talks) and forget the vesres 60.
Sad to to say that we Muslims ubandoned Quran, our enemy is following it. Just look at US after the fall of comunism, and at Israeli polices after Camp David

“You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, and shall be cast out and trodden under the foot of men.” Matthew: 5-13
“They may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.”

Millions of Christian Zionists think that by blindly supporting Israel’s apartheid policies against the tormented Palestinians, including Palestinian Christians, they are upholding the truth and doing the right thing in the sight of God. Frankly, they are wrong; supporting blatantly unjust policies, including murder, persecution and theft, is never morally correct no matter how many verses one can quote from the Old Testament or any other religious text. Moreover, these pseudo-Christians, many of whom think they are following in the footsteps of Jesus, are convinced that they are doing his will by absolutely and unconditionally embracing evil actions which are in reality the antithesis of everything that Jesus Christ preached.

I am not talking about something about which I have scanty information or rudimentary knowledge. I have written a Master’s thesis on Christian Zionists’ distorted theology, met and spoken with some of their leaders, watched their TV antics and read their books. I heard the late Jerry Falwell on several occasions claim that “if you criticize Israel, you criticize God”, adding that the Almighty “treats nations according to how nations treat Israel”. Similarly, I heard and watched another demented evangelical, Pat Robertson of the 700-Club, who would invoke Old Testament atrocities to justify Israel’s modern equivalents, even those committed against Palestinians who are his fellow Christians. I also know that some evangelical preachers have called for applying the “Biblical approach” to the Palestinians and Lebanese people for resisting Israeli aggression. That “Biblical approach” is nought but a euphemism for genocidal ethnic cleansing.

Unfortunately, this scandalous distortion of Christ’s teachings is being promoted by wealthy Zionist circles that pay lip-service to Christianity, especially among Protestant communities and evangelicals, for purely political reasons, while maligning everything and anyone professing Christianity living in Israel. If anyone still has doubts about the veracity of this claim, let them ask some of the leaders of the Christian communities in Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

This mindless infatuation with Zionism, an essentially Godless ideology that views religion, including Judaism, with contempt, is an expression of mental and spiritual sickness. What else explains the enthusiasm among such “Christians” for Israeli atrocities in Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank? Christian Zionists claim to be following the way of Jesus. However, a brief scrutiny of their behaviour reveals people who are more concerned about pleasing Israeli-Jewish supremacists than pleasing Jesus. They have the audacity to claim that they love the Palestinians, Israel’s victims, while they quite happily give support to Israel’s criminal acts, such as demolishing Palestinians’ homes, bulldozing their farms, fields and orchards, even burning them with white phosphorus. What kind of “Christian charity and love” portrays evil as good in this way? Jesus would never have condoned the actions of Zionists as even a cursory examination of his ministry will reveal.

It is often understood that “love” rather than “justice” is the essence of Christianity. But is love compatible and consistent with supporting oppression and persecution against innocent people just because they happen to be non-members of a “chosen tribe”? In fact, it is only through the fair treatment of others that true love can be manifested and conveyed. In Islam, true love is called “Ihsan” which is an advanced degree of charity and forgiveness.

It is a positive sign that the erstwhile power and influence of the cult known as Christian Zionism people who support Israel right or wrong has been receding, especially in the United States. Nevertheless, we who are the victims of Zionism and America’s enduring embrace of Israeli criminality, want to see true Christians in America and elsewhere speak out and repair the damage wreaked by successive US administrations on an innocent people whose only “crime” is their determination to free themselves from the shackles of neo-apartheid.

It is easy to “prove” any argument with selective readings from sacred texts; taken out of context, such texts can be misused and this is what has happened with fanatical Bible-thumpers viewing the Lord as no more than a Tribal Chief or real estate-dealer. The reality is that, ultimately, God does not condone oppression, even if the oppressor is Jewish.

Any theology that condones and, indeed, endorses oppression against non-Jews (including Christians) by Jews is a theology devoid of morality, a theology which owes more to Satan than to true guidance from the Almighty.

I am not suggesting that Christians should become the enemies of any particular people; I am only challenging them to behave in accordance with the teachings of Christ. If that is done, we will see organisations called “Christians united for justice” rather than “Christians united for Israel”, because true Christians can never be instrumental in implementing oppressive policies.

It's as if the very moment I passed by Bab al-Amud or Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City, I was transported back in time to a forbidden place, a place I was forced to feel as though I was illegally trespassing through just by gazing at it, a place now belonging to others. "This place you talk about no longer exists. It's been long gone." That's what they continue to say with such impunity and disregard, but those sentiments of deterrence wouldn't stop me. They never had before, and they wouldn't stand a chance now. I was determined to go back, to see it all again with my own eyes, to capture every sight so the memories would be engraved in my head forever, despite any and all pretentious constructions that would be made without our permission. Despite all the renovations and reconstructions to make it "their own," it would always be Deir Yassin to me.

"Deir Yassin," she says with a sadness, a sense of loss in her eyes each time she speaks of the atrocious day she lost her home. "Deir Yassin," she says with a childlike innocence in her voice as she recalls sweet memories before her entire world was completely denatured by evil. "Deir Yassin," the imperishable words of my grandmother continue to resonate with me each day for she made me promise to never forget, and that's a promise I intend to keep to her.

I followed the imperiously-placed road signs leading to Givat Shaul until the memories began flooding back, one by one. With no place to park, I took the chance of leaving the yellow-plated car on the side of the road, near the abandoned blue fence so I would be able to step back in time on foot. In the cool breeze of that afternoon, standing on the ledge overlooking the Har HaMenuchot cemetery in scenic view of the Jewish Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem, I inhaled deeply and digested the view of what was now known as Givat Shaul. As I stood there taking in the surreal surroundings of Mount Herzl and Yad Vashem, I was overcome by emotions as the tales of my grandmother soon came to life right before my very eyes.

"See right there," she pointed behind me, "that was my father's stone quarry, and there's the grain mill." For as long as I live, I'll never forget the look on her face, the way her lips quivered, the way she tapped her tired fingers on her chest with such pride, and the high pitch in her voice as she spoke with such nostalgia. As a little girl, she played house with her friends at the nearby monastery surrounded by fig, almond and apple trees, just as any child would do, oblivious to the tragedy that awaited them. At eight years old though, her childhood was no longer one free of trauma and injustice. In less than a day, she was forced to leave everything she had ever known behind, taking nothing with her but the clothes on her back. Sixty-two years ago, she had once called this place home. This was home, and without her knowledge, her permission, or her right, it was all taken away. Someone else callously decided it was no longer hers to claim. The thought of that still makes me feel as though I've been kicked repeatedly in the stomach.

It's difficult to return to Deir Yassin without suddenly becoming transfixed by the blatant ethnic cleansing and hypocrisy lying on the very ground once belonging to the native Palestinians who called this very ground home less than seven decades ago. Chilling tales and memories have allowed Deir Yassin to live on in the hearts and minds of countless worldwide, allowing it to be deemed as so much more than just a name associated with death, destruction and pillaging. Deir Yassin will continue to resonate as a lesson of resilience and determination to never forget.

Before walking back to the car and bidding my farewell to Deir Yassin once again, I stood on the ledge overlooking Mount Herzl with the hope of trying to absorb and digest all that I had seen that day. Standing there captivated by all that I had taken notice of this time, I couldn't help but feel as though my blood began to boil. Looking onto the grand, monumental view of Yad Vashem erected to honor those who so unjustly lost their lives in the Holocaust, I stood on the land where my own family too lost their livelihoods and lives so unjustly without so much as a marker to honor them. A mile away from Deir Yassin sits a memorial to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust, to remind the world of the inhumanity that took place with such impunity. Today, it continues to remind the world of the atrocities that took place with a timeless, ubiquitous message of "never to forget man's inhumanity to man."

I can't help but feel as though the overwhelming irony is shamelessly mocking me as I stand there on the other side of Yad Vashem in Deir Yassin, where a massacre took place 62 years ago. I stood there honoring those whose names don't appear in a museum, whose voices are rarely, if ever, heard in the media, and whose legacies are insolently ignored and omitted from textbooks and classrooms, rendering them invisible to so many in the world. Standing there, I wonder if those who visit the museum look over to the other side and even know what occurred there some 60 years ago, whether or not they question what happened, and whether or not they feel any sympathy like they do for their own. Deir Yassin carries with it such magnitude, for it is not just the story of a massacre, but the story of two peoples -- the victims and the victims of those victims -- whose fates allowed them to be conjoined on stolen land.

Wiped off the post-1948 maps of Israel, Deir Yassin can never and will never be wiped out of the minds of Palestinians worldwide, those under occupation and those in the diaspora. No matter how the maps and signs are altered, I will always find a way back to Deir Yassin, because it is my moral responsibility to return and keep its legacy alive. This is where I come from. This is where my family, who are still alive and well to remember, suffered. This is where injustice took place, and I will never forget. After all, it was Simon Wiesenthal who said that "hope lives when people remember," when observing the suffering of the Jews at the hands of injustice. Likewise, the suffering of the Palestinians deserves to be dignified as well. As any people who have been subjugated and oppressed, Palestinians too will hold on to their relentless refusal to concede and forget.

Despite all the agony, anguish and traumatizing memories that have echoed with her throughout her life, my grandmother's eyes still light up just at the sound of hearing Deir Yassin. Today, this place that's been associated with such pain and suffering to so many continues to instill such pride and joy in her. I've never known such strength and resilience, but I hope to learn from it every single day.

So, today, I commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the Deir Yassin Massacre. Commemorating Deir Yassin is not to create a sadistic exploitation of the suffering of a people. It is a reminder to us all that injustice did take place there, and that it is our responsibility to remember that the atrocities and intolerance we see and hear about today had their inception with Deir Yassin. Deir Yassin, which catapulted the Nakba, our catastrophe, is an undeniable marker of unabashed injustice, and it will continue to deter any prevarication and the notion that "ignorance is bliss." Deir Yassin signifies that Palestinians existed and still exist, and we will never give up without a fight.

David Ben Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, was mistaken when he arrogantly asserted that "the old will die and the young will forget," for he underestimated the indomitable will of the Palestinian people. Despite heartache, pain and suffering, we will never relinquish a dream so imbedded in our hearts and minds. Yes, the old may die, but the young will never able to forget, and to paraphrase Bobby Sands, "our revenge will be the laughter of our children," those who will carry on this dream and fight for justice. This dream will live on in the hearts of generation after generation; it is an inextinguishable fire burning inside our hearts, and what we say today will be our lifelong commitment to it.

Dina Elmuti is a graduate student in the Masters in Social Work program at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- The weekly anti-wall march in Bil’in village renewed afternoon Friday the protest against the Israeli segregation wall and settlement activities defying military orders which four weeks ago declared the village a closed military zone on Fridays.

The protesters marched after Friday prayers from the center of the village towards the western gate of the wall and tried to reach the land behind it when the Israeli troops, anticipating their coming, showered them with sound and tear gas grenades, and rubber bullets.

They also used a cannon mounted on a military jeep to shoot dozens of tear gas canisters at once and chased protestors into the village.

In related incidents, the villages of Ni’lin, Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam, north and west of Ramallah city, also witnessed fierce clashes triggered when the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) attacked the anti-wall marches organized weekly by the villagers and foreign activists.

It was reported that the IOF troops invaded the village of Nabi Saleh and started to fire tear gas grenades at the Palestinian homes which caused a number of women and children to faint. They also sprayed wastewater into commercial stores and homes

Sunday evening at sundown, sirens will sound throughout Israel to commemorate the start of Holocaust Remembrance Day. On Monday, ceremonies will be held in various cities, the main one being at Yad Vashem, the memorial park in Jerusalem.

Friday was the anniversary of the massacre at Deir Yassin, the start of the ‘other holocaust’, known as the Nakba. There were no sirens to signify this as the Nakba is the ‘forgotten child of the holocaust’. In Israel today it is forbidden to even speak of this, to make sure it remains forgotten. You can read about The Children of Deir Yassin in this essay. A video can be viewed HERE.

“We thought it would be a matter of weeks, only until the fighting died down. Of course, we were never allowed to go home.” Nina Saah, Washington, DC“My family’s farm of oranges, grapefruits and lemons, centuries old, was gone.” Darwish Addassi, Walnut Creek, California“Those of us who left unwillingly in 1948 are plagued with painful nostalgia. My house in West Jerusalem is an Israeli nursery school now.” Inea Bushnaq, New York, New York“The people of New Orleans woke up one morning to complete devastation and had to flee. The Nakba was our Hurricane Katrina.” Abe Fawal, Birmingham, AlabamaSixty years ago, more than 700,000 Palestinians lost their homes and belongings, their farms and businesses, their towns and cities. Jewish militias seeking to create a state with a Jewish majority in Palestine, and later, the Israeli army, drove them out. Israel rapidly moved Jews into the newly-emptied Palestinian homes. Nakba means “catastrophe” in Arabic, and Palestinians refer to the destruction of their society and the takeover of their homeland as an-Nakba, “The Catastrophe.”

Ten Facts about the NakbaDeir Yassin and Tantura.Plan Dalet was the blueprint for this ethnic cleansing. Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, said “We must use terror, assassination, intimidation, land confiscation, and the cutting of all social services to rid the Galilee of its Arab population.” (See what other leading Israelis have said about transfer.)United Nations Resolution 194 of 1948. Israel, however, does not allow Palestinian refugees to return, although a Jew from anywhere in the world can settle in Israel.2002 Zogby poll, conducted in eight Arab countries showed that “the negative perception of the United States is based on American policies, not a dislike of the West.” The same poll showed that “the Palestinian issue was listed by many Arabs among the political issues thataffect them most personally.” Resolution of the Palestinian refugee issue would undoubtedly improve America’s international image, by proving that the U.S. government supports the consistent application of international law.1. The Nakba is a root cause of the Israeli/Palestinian problem.It is marked on May 15, the day after Israel declared its independence in 1948.

2. This traumatic event created the Palestinian refugee crisis.By the end of 1948, two-thirds of the Palestinian population was exiled. It is estimated that more than 50% were driven out under direct military assault. Others fled as news spread of massacres committed by Jewish militias in Palestinian villages like

3. Jewish leaders saw “transfer” as an important step in the establishment of Israel.Jewish leaders spoke openly of the need to use military clashes to expel as many Palestinians as possible before other Arab countries could come to their defense. The Haganah militia’s

4. Hundreds of Palestinian villages and towns were destroyed.Jewish forces depopulated more than 450 Palestinian towns and villages, most of which were demolished.

5. Palestinian property and belongings were simply taken.The newly-established Israeli government confiscated refugee land and properties without respect to Palestinian rights or desires to return to their homes.Israeli historian Tom Segev reported that: “Entire cities and hundreds of villages left empty were repopulated with new [Jewish] immigrants… Free people – Arabs – had gone into exile and become destitute refugees; destitute refugees – Jews – took the exiles’ places in the first step in their lives as free people. One group [Palestinians] lost all they had while the other [Jews] found everything they needed – tables, chairs, closets, pots, pans, plates, sometimes clothes, family albums, books radios, pets….

6. Some Palestinians stayed in what became Israel.While most Palestinians were driven out, some remained in what became Israel. Although citizens of the new state, they were subject to Israeli military rule until 1966. Today, Palestinian citizens of Israel comprise nearly 20 percent of Israel’s population. They have the right to vote and run for office, but more than 20 Israeli laws explicitly privilege Jews over non-Jews. Nearly one-quarter of Israel’s Palestinians are “internally displaced” persons, unable to return to the homes and lands that were taken from them.

7. There are still millions of Palestinian refugees dispersed around the world.Today, there are 4.4 million Palestinian refugees registered as such with the United Nations, and at least another estimated 1 million who are not so registered. Thus a majority of the Palestinian people, around 10 million persons, are refugees.

8. Refugees have internationally-recognized rights.All refugees enjoy internationally-recognized rights to return to areas from which they have fled or were forced out, to receive compensation for damages, and to either regain their properties or receive compensation and support for voluntary resettlement. This right has been explicitly acknowledged in recent peace agreements in Cambodia, Rwanda, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Guatemala, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Burundi, and Darfur. This right was affirmed for the Palestinians by the

9. Justly resolving refugee rights is essential to Middle East peace.An overwhelming majority of Palestinians believes that refugee rights must be fulfilled for peace between Palestinians and Israelis to endure. And according to an August 2007 poll by the Jerusalem Media and Communications Center, nearly 70 percent believe that refugees should be allowed to return to “their original land”.10. The Nakba has implications for Americans.Israel’s ongoing denial of Palestinian rights – and unconditional U.S. financial and diplomatic support for Israel – fuels anti-American sentiment abroad. A

Two years ago Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was quoted as saying that there can be no Palestinian state unless and until the victims learn to forget the word Nakba.

“The Palestinians will celebrate their statehood when they erase the word Nakba from their lexicon,” said Livni, whose father, Eitan, who died in 1991, played an active part in effecting the genocidal campaign of murder and terror that culminated in the establishment of Israel.Last year, Livni had the temerity to say that the creation of a Palestinian state on parts of the West Bank would have to address Israel’s Arab citizens.

The Nakba will NOT be forgotten and there WILL be a Palestinian State!

GAZA, (PIC)-- MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular committee against the siege, has said that the Palestinian people would continue to defy siege and to work for regaining rights with all means possible.

Khudari, speaking in a telephone address to a students' rally in Rabat, Morocco, on Friday, said that the Palestinians would remain steadfast despite challenges.

The MP described the rally as an important step in supporting the Palestinian steadfastness, and championed more such active roles in support of the Palestinians.

Gaza has been suffering from siege and closure of crossings for the past four years, which led to the death of 500 patients and worsened the conditions of others, he said, adding that Gaza's industrial and commercial sectors were totally paralyzed.

He said that the situation in the West Bank was no better, pointing to the separation, racist wall that robbed Palestinians of their lands and homes in addition to the roadblocks spread all over the West Bank and the repeated attempts to storm the Aqsa Mosque and judaize Jerusalem.

The lawmaker underlined, however, that the Palestinian people regardless of all circumstances would never give up their land.

Below is a video song which is distributed by “The Never Before Campaign Team”. The video is mainly a response to Israeli propaganda and PR efforts. The first image of the settler who is seen throwing stones is a well known terrorist from the Kahanist Jewish Underground cell. He is one of the terrorist squatters involved in bombing 10 Palestinian shops in Hebron on Al-Kayyal square near the vegetable market on first April 2001, while Hebron was under a tightened curfew.
This terrorist has appeared everywhere in West Bank towns and cities were jewish terrorist actions were perpetrated against Palestinians, especially in Nablus and Hebron.
See the video below

Allegations have surfaced that the late pontiff John Paul ll blocked an investigation of a pedophile cardinal, promoted senior church officials despite allegations they had raped children, and covered up innumerable cases of sexual abuse of children during his 26-year papacy have cast a cloud over his path to sainthood.
The most serious claims concern Hans Groer, the Cardinal of Austria and a close friend of John Paul. Groer sexually abused an estimated 2,000 boys for decades, but was never hindered by Rome. The Groer affair became public in 1995 when former pupils of an elite Catholic school accused him of sexual abuse. Groer was never punished and some of his victims were offered “hush money” by the Church…
John Paul also faced criticism last week from Poland for protecting Archbishop Juliusz Paetz, who was accused of abusing trainee priests. Letters detailing the charges were sent to John Paul’s office and also to Ratzinger, but they were ignored…
Stanislaw Obirek, a Polish theologian and a former Jesuit priest, said: “I believe John Paul is the key person responsible for the cover-up of abuse cases because most of it occurred during his papacy. How can someone who is to blame for this be beatified?”…

Written by Free Gaza team | 09 April 2010

Our four boats are purchased or refurbished, flagged and registered. The cargo ship is now named the MV Rachel Corrie with the blessing of the Corrie family. Children in Gaza and the occupied West Bank will name the other two boats, and we will let you know what they chose.

We are hard at work collecting the cargo… cement, books for children and universities, paper for printing books, water filtration equipment, and medical equipment, all being denied the people of Gaza by Israel’s brutal blockade.

So we ask one last time for a $25.00-$100.00 donation from each of you, a donation that will be used for our operating costs. It is not enough to buy, register and insure the boats.

We need fuel for all vessles, crew expenses, supplies for all four boats, a crane to add to the cargo ship to offload the cargo, and miscellaneous expenses that always appear at the last minute.

Please go to http://www.freegaza.org/de/donate and help us raise the final 20%. You can donate in the U.S. by writing a tax-deductible check to our fiscal sponsor in DC, donate through our two PayPal accounts, one in Cyprus and one in the U.S. or wire an amount into our Free Gaza account in Cyprus. The website provides all of the detail for you.
With your help, our final $100,000 can be raised in the next month as we get ready to leave Europe on May 3 and begin our voyage to Gaza. More than 5000 of you now follow our voyages; you have signed up for our TWITTER account, you have joined our newsletter, and you are members of many Free Gaza lists. Please donate, send our plea to your own lists, then watch our journey as we make our way across the sea to Gaza.
Thank you from all of us at Free Gaza. Every one of you has made this flotilla a reality.

PRESS RELEASEApril 5th, 2010

Istanbul, Turkey – Following months of preparation, a coalition bringing together a number of organizations and movements working to break Israel’s illegal blockade on Gaza was announced yesterday in Istanbul. The coalition, comprised of the Turkey-based IHH (Insani Yardim Vakfi) organization, the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza (ECESG), the Greek Ship to Gaza campaign, the Swedish Ship to Gaza campaign and the Free Gaza Movement, will launch a flotilla of ships laden with cargo, media, parliamentarians, celebrities and activists to Gaza next month.

The flotilla includes at least eight vessels, including three cargo ships, and will set sail from European ports beginning May 3, reaching the port of Gaza later in the month. Over 500 passengers from more than 20 countries will take part, and 5,000 tons of cargo, including cement, prefabricated housing, other building materials, medical equipment, and educational supplies will be delivered to Palestinians in Gaza.

The Free Gaza Movement has been launching ships to Gaza since August 2008, partnering with organizations and activists around the world on these missions. In December 2009, IHH led a land convoy to Gaza that brought tons of humanitarian aid and other supplies. In January 2010 the European Campaign brought 50 parliamentarians to Gaza in solidarity with the Palestinian people and to witness the devastation wrought by Israel’s illegal policies. Ship to Gaza/Greece and Ship to Gaza/Sweden meanwhile have had ongoing campaigns in their countries to raise awareness and funds for this effort and for materials to be brought to Gaza.

“Through this coalition, these organizations will be able to maximize resources, experience and commitment to ending the illegal siege on Gaza. Even as Israel continues its daily persecution of Palestinians, we will use this action to wake the world’s consciousness about the crimes committed against Palestinians,” said IHH President Bulent Yildirim.

The coalition invites organizations and individuals from around the world to join the effort by providing supplies for Gaza and contributing financial support for the mission.

DAMASCUS, (PIC)-- The Hamas Movement has asserted on Friday that Israeli policy of committing massacres against the Palestinian people was a reflection of the Israeli arrogance that aims at uprooting the Palestinian people from their homeland.

In a statement it issued on the 62nd anniversary of the Deir Yasin massacre, Hamas explained that the massacre wasn’t isolated but rather part of a chain of ugly and planned massacres in other parts of occupied Palestine with the aim to terrify the Palestinian civilians and to force them to leave their homeland.

The Movement also pointed out that such Israeli policy continued over the past decades including the latest war on Gaza where thousands of Palestinian civilians were either killed or wounded.

In this regard, Hamas confirmed that the Israelis were wrong if they think that such massacres would break the determination and will of the Palestinian people, stressing that the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people made them more steadfast, more resolute, and more determined to achieve freedom and independence.

Moreover, the Movement underlined that the Israeli practices against the city of Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip were part of the Israeli mentality and not just an exceptional condition.

It also underscored the right of the Palestinian people to prosecute the Israeli war criminals who ordered and those who executed those massacres, stressing that such a right couldn’t be cancelled by the passage of time.

GAZA, (PIC)-- Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman for Hamas Movement in Gaza Strip, has asserted Friday that the confidential documents revealed by the Hebrew media on the assassination crimes committed by the IOF troops against the Palestinian people represent additional evidence on the criminal mentality of the Israeli occupation authority (IOA).

In an interview with the PIC on Friday, Abu Zuhri pointed out that the documents confirm Hamas's accusations and what the entire world knows about the IOA terrorism against the Palestinian people, adding that the documents were sufficient grounds to bring leaders of the "Zionist entity" to international justice.

He also warned that ignoring such disclosures would encourage the Israeli occupation to commit more crimes against innocent Palestinian civilians, stressing that the revelation of the documents condemns not only the Israelis but all those who backed and supported them, especially the European parties who kept on bragging about being democratic while giving a blind eye to the Israeli crimes in occupied Palestine.

Earlier investigation carried out by the Hebrew Ha'aretz daily newspaper confirmed that the IOF troops carried out official orders in killing "wanted" Palestinians in cold blood even if they could arrest them alive.

According to the paper, the secret documents were revealed by a 23-year-old former Israeli female soldier Anat Kam who was put under house arrest since then.

She said that the IOF command approved plans to kill "wanted" Palestinian activists in the West Bank even if they could arrest them, adding that such orders were mulled in secret sessions for IOF leaders.

The disclosed documents proved that the IOF troops committed such crimes despite orders from the "supreme court" prohibiting killing in case other alternatives were applicable.

CAIRO, (PIC)-- Advisor to Algerian minister of Justice Dr. Mrok Nasreddin on Thursday called on the international criminal court to do justice to the Gaza Strip against the serious crimes and violations committed against it by Israel.

Dr. Nasreddin demanded the international criminal court to deal seriously with the Israeli violations against human rights in Gaza, expressing hope that his court would change of its approach and be more biased in favor of the victims especially in Palestine.

He told journalists in the Arab League headquarters that the Israeli war crimes in Gaza was committed in full view of the world and it is unacceptable that such thing happened while the international criminal court was doing nothing.

09/04/2010 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Friday that any threats from the West against Iran will be met with more determination and reiterated that his government was not seeking an "inhuman" atomic bomb.

In an address marking National Nuclear Day, Ahmadinejad said Iran was now a "nuclear nation" and that it was Western pressure which had forced it to enrich uranium to the 20 percent level.

"We have said several times that we are honest. We are sure that we are on the right path. But they should know that those who sit in glass palaces are wrong to try to deflect Iran's will," the Iranian President said.

"These kinds of actions will make Iranians more determined," the president said. "For example, four months ago we had no intention of making 20 percent (enriched uranium) fuel. But when they talked of threats, we went ahead."

Ahmadinejad renewed the denial on Friday but again said Iran was now a nuclear nation. "We are against nuclear weapons... we consider nuclear weapons to be inhuman," he said. "They know the path of the Iranian nation is a path of no return. Our experts have reached a point where no power can create hurdles in the way of Iran getting nuclear technology."

"Today, Iran is a nuclear nation. Whether the ill-wishers accept it or not, it is a nuclear nation and with God's help it will remain one," he said to chants of Allahu Akbar (God is greater) from the crowd.

Before his speech, Ahmadinejad unveiled a model of a new generation of uranium-enriching centrifuge that atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi said was capable of enriching uranium six times faster than Iran's existing centrifuges.

Ahmadinejad's comments came a day after China joined five other major powers in agreeing to further talks on a new round of UN sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

Envoys of Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany huddled for nearly three hours behind closed doors to mull a US draft resolution that would slap sanctions on Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards believed to be involved in nuclear proliferation activities. "We had a worthwhile discussion," US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice told reporters at the end of the meeting held at Britain's UN mission.

"We look forward to continuing these discussions here in New York and in capitals in the days and weeks to come." she added. Earlier Thursday, Rice said at UN headquarters: "I am not prepared to predict when they (the talks) will conclude or not." "We are working to get this done swiftly, within a matter of weeks in the spring," she added.

The two leaders said Iran could expect a fourth round of UN sanctions if it maintains its refusal to halt uranium enrichment and cooperate with UN atomic watchdog inspectors. The United States and its Western allies believe Tehran is using uranium enrichment as a cover to build nuclear weapons, a claim the Iranians deny.

In New York, China's UN Ambassador Li Baodong said after the meeting that the six powers would continue to pursue a diplomatic solution even as they sought a deal over sanctions to persuade Tehran to halt its uranium enrichment program. "The dual track (sanctions coupled with negotiations) approach is actually focused on diplomacy," Li said, adding that fresh talks were planned for next week. Churkin echoed those remarks.

Obama called for "smart" and "strong" sanctions by the United Nations, which in May will hold a review conference on the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. "I have said many times that sanctions very often do not work, but sometimes they are necessary.... These need to be smart sanctions, capable of prompting the right behavior," Medvedev added.

Meanwhile the State Department said efforts to pressure Iran to “curtail” its nuclear program will also be a "significant" topic during next week's nuclear summit in Washington. "We continue to do everything we can to produce an appropriate resolution as soon as possible and we're very mindful of the timetable," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad however said Thursday he would not beg the world powers to refrain from imposing new sanctions on the Islamic republic. And Iran's top general, Hassan Firouzabadi, warned that if Washington attacks the Islamic republic none of the American soldiers in the region will return home alive, the Fars news agency reported. Firouzabadi's comments come a day after Ahmadinejad warned Obama of a tough response as he lashed out against Washington's new nuclear doctrine.

"Be careful. If you set step in Mr (George W.) Bush's path, the nations' response would be the same tooth-breaking one as they gave Bush," Ahmadinejad said Wednesday. A day earlier, the US leader said for the first time that countries without atomic weapons that complied with non-proliferation treaty obligations need not fear a US nuclear attack. But Obama also warned that exceptions could be made for "outliers" such as Iran and North Korea, both of which are accused by the West of flouting UN resolutions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has abruptly canceled his plans to attend President Barack Obama’s nuclear security summit next week, creating an embarrassing distraction on the eve of a high-profile meeting the White House has sought to carefully choreograph.
An Israeli official confirmed Netanyahu’s decision not to attend, which was revealed by Israeli media outlets Thursday afternoon Washington time.

“In the last 24 hours, the Israeli government has learned of various reports from various sources on the intention of several states attending the conference not only to deal with the issue at hand, but to take the opportunity to make a point of grand-standing against Israel and the issue of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty," the Israeli official said. "The prime minister was dismayed at this, and decided to stick to the Israeli policy that Israel is usually represented at these types of conferences at the professional-ministerial level.”Another official, Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor, will head the Israeli delegation attending the summit on securing nuclear materials.....

The crowd of Republican activists at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans Thursday night applauded loudly when told, by Liz Cheney, of Netanayhu's decision. "President Obama is playing a reckless game if he continues down the path of diminishing America's ties to Israel," she said...... "